It’s
been a long two years in Lexington under
coach Rich Brooks, and the 2004 season couldn’t
have been much worse, with the K-Cats ranked
among the worst in the country on offense
(114th in scoring, 115th in total offense),
and on defense (85th in scoring, 102nd in
total defense). They were beaten by 15 points
(or more) six times and were blown in out
several SEC games.

Believe
or not, the Wildcats are turning a corner.
What’s to be excited about? There’s
plenty of young talent on this roster, as
Brooks has recruited well so far. Ergo,
struggles will occur with sophomores and
freshmen making key contributions on both
sides of the ball, but the talent potential
will be realized once the learning curve
is achieved.

Brooks
and his staff have done all they can to
give their youngsters a chance to succeed.
They’ve eliminated most option plays
to accommodate the drop-back skills of new
quarterback Andre Woodson. They’ve
also shifted the defense from three down
linemen to four, giving the ‘Cats
a better chance against the run.

It’s
going to take more than a few talented sophomores
and freshmen, along with a few playbook
changes, to make Ashley Judd and the rest
of the Wildcat faithful to take notice,
though. The team needs to win a few early
to allow momentum and confidence to be a
factor. Otherwise, the results could be
similar to recent campaigns. Growth will
assuredly happen, but wins (duh) are the
only thing that will turn this year’s
version of UK football around. If not, “rebuilding”
will be their status once again.

Early
non-cons will tune them up, but once that
SEC schedule hits, so does reality. Alabama
is fortunately replaced by Ole Miss. Kentucky
will win, but not enough to become bowl
eligible, and not nearly enough to become
genuinely competitive in the SEC. But by
season’s end, foes will face a toughened
UK squad that is no longer anyone’s
pushover.

Quarterback
Andre Woodson steps into the starting role after
watching most of ’04 from the sideline.
He’s not the dual threat of his predecessor,
and, accordingly, the Wildcats will have to simplify
the calls for him. But, he is a tall, big kid
who throws a rope. One reason Woodson was so highly
recruited out of high school is that he makes
good decisions, and he proved that in hitting
on 61.4 percent of his passes and throwing just
one pick (in 88 attempts). He has to stay healthy,
because expected backup Joe Joe Brown (all-Georgia
first team as a prep senior), a genuine dual threat
when he plays, has academic issues.

Running
Back
This seems to be, so far, an underachieving group,
especially when seeing that no returning Wildcat
rushed for more than 265 yards. At least the top
guys are back. Rafael Little is the best athlete
of the group, and he had a great spring to go
with solid play in last season’s final three
games (also starts). He has good off-the-ball
speed, and will catch and/or run with equal ability.
He’ll again rush for 5+ per carry, giving
the ‘Cats a legitimate dual threat who can
be their workhorse. Converted-CB Tony Dixon (who
sat out spring on academic suspension) is a speedster,
while senior leader Arliss Beach, huge for a TB,
could handle many carries if he can stay healthy.
Both will get plenty. FB Alexis Bwenge, too, offers
Kentucky multiple options, with his all-around
approach a perfect good compliment to Little.
Together, these two should be the “can-opener”
that allows UK to pour their offense into foes’
secondaries.

Receiver
This will be an area of strength as/once Woodson
develops. Glenn Holt is the top guy, and he will
break away for more big plays with Woodsen - another
meager 8.5 yards per catch showing won’t
scare anyone from press coverage(s). Scott Mitchell
is actually bigger than Holt, and his 4.4 speed
(in the 40) makes him an even bigger threat. The
return of Tommy Cook from a knee injury is also
a huge plus. The sixth-year senior is one of the
most versatile snarlers on the team, as he can
both stretch the defense and make key blocks in
the run game. Beyond the top three, the Wildcats
have a host of capable players whom they feel
can occupy any receiver position, so this unit
will competitively push itself into a quality
showing.

Tight
End
Jacob Tamme will be a star. He came to Kentucky
a tall, lanky, speedy receiver. Making the switch
to tight end, he’s added nearly 30 pounds
to his frame and was sensational in the spring.
He will be one of Woodson’s favorite targets,
early and often if UK is to maximize its offensive
potential. Together, opposing LBs can’t
cover the combo of Bwenge, Little and Tamme effectively,
so something has to give if all three start to
shine.

Offensive
Line
Only two starters are back as starting left tackle
Aaron Miller has decided to leave the team. Partly
out of necessity, but mostly due to talent, Miller
started as a true freshman, a rare feat at such
an important spot. Right tackle Hayden Lane also
returns. He has prototypical size and strength
for a tackle, and is also a heady player. Center
Matt McCutchan has solid fundamentals, and steps
back into his starting role. The guards are young
and untested, and their rapid development(s) will
equal a marginally better effort.

OFFENSIVE
BREAKDOWN
The Wildcats were rather poor, but, hey, it couldn’t
possibly get any worse. After averaging a meager
275.5 yards and an even more meager 15.7 points
per game, there really isn’t any other direction
to take this much capable talent but upward. Losing
Boyd will stabilize their approach and allow for
legitimate improvements to mean a consistent flow
of positive yardage - as the dimensions are marbled
well to keep opposing Ds guessing, the offense
will become formidable. The Wildcats can become
a true threat to unsuspecting conference foes,
but improvements have to come about slowly (as
all parts methodically realize the team’s
potential and fulfill it weekly). Kentucky isn’t
going to suddenly become a high-powered machine,
but led by Woodson and an improved running game,
there will be a “Little” more about
which to growl.

WR
Tommy Cook

KENTUCKY
2005 DEPTH CHARTReturning Starters in bold

OFFENSE

QB

Andre'
Woodson-So (6-5, 230)

Joe
Joe Brown-Fr (6-3, 190)
David Hamilton-Jr (6-2, 198)

FB

Alexis
Bwenge-Sr (6-1, 229)

Justin
Sprowles-Sr (5-10, 230)

TB

Rafael
Little-So (5-11, 195)

Arliss
Beach-Sr (6-0, 220)Tony Dixon-So (5-9, 200)

WR

Glenn
Holt-Sr (6-2, 195)

Keenan
Burton-So (6-2, 195)

WR

Tommy
Cook-Sr (6-0, 206)

Scott
Mitchell-Sr (6-3, 222)

TE

Jacob
Tamme-So (6-5, 234)

Jeremiah
Drobney-Sr (6-4, 255)

OT

Fatu
Turituri-Jr (6-3, 290)

Patrick
Daly-So (6-6, 300)

OG

Michael
Aitcheson-Jr (6-3, 290)

Cody
Morehead-So (6-5, 320)

C

Matt
McCutchan-Sr (6-3, 295)

Casey
Shumate-So (6-3, 280)

OG

Trai
Williams-Jr (6-4, 280)

Micah
Jones-So (6-4, 320)

OT

Hayden
Lane-Jr (6-6, 280)

Ernie
Pelayo-Sr (6-6, 290)

K

Taylor
Begley-Sr (6-0, 200)

Tommy
Brummett-Fr (6-2, 210)

2005
DEFENSE

Defensive
Line
Kentucky was awful against the run (112th, 225.2
ypg) so they went for a scheme change, ditching
the 3-4 alignment for the 4-3, which will help
to improve the run defense. Three full or part-time
starters return to tackle, including Ricky Abren,
one of the country’s best freshmen in ‘04
who is solid against the run (two forced fumbles
show his keen nature to follow the ball). Converted-LB
Trey Mielsch was voted as the team’s best
defensive player and now moves from end to tackle,
where his exceptional athleticism (school record
holder [prep] in the 110-meter hurdles) will make
this interior a legitimate stopping force. The
ends in the new alignment will be B. Jay Parsons,
who has impressed with his speed and quickness,
and Durrell White, a strong and athletic player
who started at linebacker last campaign. Overall,
it’s a decent group that will improve results
and disrupt foes’ plans for a full 60 minutes
with their hungry depth.

Linebacker
A projected strength, the Wildcats now have some
concerns here. Jon Sumrall led the team in tackles
but had to give up football in the spring because
of cervical spinal stenosis. Now, instead of having
a strong senior leader in the middle, Kentucky
hands the job to “gray-shirted” freshman
Johnny Williams, who is tough, fast, and has the
smarts to dominate with so much relentless energy.
On the strong side, Joe Schuler, a physical sophomore,
takes over as returning starter and 2003 team
leading tackler Chad Anderson has chosen to give
up football for personal reasons. The corps’
leader now becomes Raymond Fontaine, who will
have a big year on the weak side. He’s got
big-play capability and can realize it more with
the new front-seven alignment.

Defensive
Back
Kentucky’s pass defense wasn’t too
bad in 2004, but that mainly due to opponents
had so much fun running that they didn’t
need to throw. Still, this is a solid group. Three
starters return, but the excitement is centered
around Bo Smith, who missed last season when an
accident with a baseball bat hit his head (eye).
He’s missed games in ’03 with a groin
strain, but when healthy, he’s the best
player in the secondary. With exceptional speed
and toughness, he’ll use his height well.
Antoine Huffman is a solid corner who makes plays
in the passing game. At safety, Muhammad Abdullah
(all-SEC) is great against the run, and Marcus
McClinton will improve on his already-impressive
contribution as a true freshman (second on the
team in tackles).

DEFENSIVE
BREAKDOWN
Brooks had seen enough (428.4 yards and 31.0 points
allowed per game in ‘04) and had to make
a change by switching up schemes. The new 4-3
alignment will make a difference, but the Wildcats
will still struggle to stop foes’ running
games outside. Then there is the experiment at
MLB with Williams, a true freshman for experience-sake.
The secondary is capable, but it won’t have
enough to completely stop an opponent. The numbers
(ranked 44th in pass defense, but 79th in the
all-important efficiency ratings) show that this
group could leak like a sieve if air tested, so
we wonder how marginal the entire D may be as
this is Kentucky’s defensive strength.

DB
Muhammad Abdullah

KENTUCKY
2005 DEPTH CHARTReturning Starters in bold

DEFENSE

DE

B.
Jay Parsons-Sr (6-5, 250)

Travis
Day-So (6-3, 260)

DT

Trey
Mielsch-Sr (6-3, 280)

Ricky
Abren-So (6-2, 285)

DT

Lamar
Mills-Jr (6-1, 285)

Jason
Leger-So (6-1, 288)

DE

Durrell
White-Jr (6-3, 245)

Nii
Adjei Oninku-Fr (6-1, 245)

SLB

Raymond
Fontaine-Sr (6-4, 225)

Johnny
Williams-Fr (6-3, 230)

MLB

Joe
Schuler-So (6-3, 240)

Ben
McGrath-Fr (6-2, 240)

WLB

Mikhail
Mabry-Fr (6-2, 234)

Wesley
Woodyard-So (6-1, 200)

CB

Antoine
Huffman-Sr (6-0, 175)

Jarrell
Williams-Fr (5-11, 185)

CB

Bo
Smith-Jr (6-0, 195)

Shomari
Moore-Fr (5-9, 180)

SS

Muhammad
Abdullah-Sr (6-0, 205)

Roger
Williams-So (6-0, 200)

FS

Marcus
McClinton-So (6-1, 206)

Karl
Booker-Jr (6-1, 189)

P

Kris
Kessler-Jr (6-0, 200)

Tommy
Brummett-Fr (6-2, 210)

2005
SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker
Taylor Begley returns for a fourth year as the starter.
Almost automatic inside 40 yards, Begley is streaky
from further out. On returns, the Wildcats will improve
as the secondary becomes competitive and sends its honed
assassins into this mix.

Punter
Jeff Archer hasn’t punted regularly since high
school (Class of 2001), and spent his first three years
of college on the UK baseball team. He does have a solid
leg, though, and could step right into the starting
role as (DC) Mike Archer’s son helps this area
stay strong. Otherwise, several walk-ons will compete
for the punting job. Incoming freshmanTim Masthay will
vie for the punting and kickoff duties when he arrives
in August

Return
Game
The Wildcats were one of the worst teams in the country
on punt returns, but the return of Keenan Burton from
a broken wrist will help. He flashed his big-play ability
before his campaign ended in Week 2, and he’ll
be the leader in both punt and kick returns. Incumbents
Dicky Lyons (punt returns) and Draak Davis (kickoffs)
will also get their chances, but a healthy Burton makes
this unit better.